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A NEW GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA HAS ARISE

My heartiest congratulations to Pakatan Harapan, PAS and Barisan Nasional.

Congratulations to ALL the RAKYAT that have casted their votes democratically and in full decorum.

My highest "sembah" to all the Raja-Raja Melayu including HRM The Yang Di Pertuan Agong, and my highest salute to the armed forces and the police.

May our economy, social, politics, judiciary system, international relations be reformed. The Media should be given freedom of speech and the human rights must now be safeguarded.

The RAKYAT whether you're from the new Government or from Barisan Nasional - even from PAS - now need to contribute ideas on how to rebuild our country. There will be hiccups here and there but we will all work it out.

No more playing racial card, respect every religion/faith/belief, no more cursing, no more political inclination, no more dirty politics, no more kleptocracy, no more sufferings, no more unnecessary tax, no more supremacy, Stop calling the new Government - Opposition...they are NOW the Official Government of Malaysia....

I also hope that DSAI will be released as soon as possible.

Now let's all work together for a better Malaysia.

Let's show the world what we are made of

ADAKAH KITA DARI KETURUNAN YANG BAIK? CATATAN DIARI USANG : NIK ZAFRI

Tulisan asal : 30 Ogos 2010 jam 10.52 malam

Berikut adalah sebahagian pesanan seorang musafir pada suatu malam, yang pernah saya tolong/memberikan bantuan kepadanya pada tahun 1993 di Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Orang ini mendakwa saya adalah seorang keturunan yang baik namun tidaklah saya fikirkan sangat mengenai perkara ini, maka manfaatkanlah sekadar mampu pesanannya itu. (saya pernah cuba mencari kembali musafir ini tetapi dari apa yang saya diberitahu, beliau telah kembali ke rahmatullah)

Saya memohon izin untuk menulis setiap pesanannya  dan saya ingin kongsikan bersama  :

1) mempunyai atau memberikan nama atau gelaran yang baik kerana nama/gelaran itu adalah doa (katakanlah nama kita maksudnya kurang baik, maka letakkanlah gelaran yang baik sebagai gantinya)

2) melaksanakan dan menjaga hukum agama dengan penuh keazaman dan istiqamah,

3) sentiasa berdamping dengan ulama supaya tidak menyimpang dari ajaran agama,

4) menjaga dan menghormati ulama,

5) menjaga aqidah, syariah serta tinggi budipekerti dan akhlak,

6) berfikiran luas,

7) bersifat adil dalam menjalankan hukuman atau membuat sesuatu keputusan,

8) Apabila menyudahkan setiap kerja yang dilakukan, lihatlah hasilnya dan meningkatkan lagi mutunya di mana perlu, (tidak mudah berpuas hati dengan apa yang dilakukan)

10) sifat simpati kepada orang yang susah,

11) menegur atau memarahi atau menghukum (atas kebenaran) hanya setelah pasti perbuatan yang dilihat adalah salah dan terbukti

12) berusaha/berazam menjauhi kemungkaran dan sentiasa menggunakan akal bagi membungkam nafsu-nafsi yang merosakkan,

13) lidah yang fasih dalam berkata-kata supaya terang dan jelas maksud kata-katanya

14) tegas dalam mengingatkan sesuatu yang baik kepada seseorang,

15) tidak terlibat dalam perkara/majlis yang tidak berfaedah

16) memastikan majlis berfaedah yang dihadirinya atau dibuat olehnya dipastikan ada orang-orang yang mendoakan agar diberkati majlis berkenaan

17) tidak menzalimi manusia lain,

18) mempastikan kesejahteraan, kemakmuran, keamanan dan kemajuan persekitarannya terutamanya ahli keluarga, sanak saudara, rakan-rakan, anak-anak buah (termasuk kakitangan/pekerja kita) dan lain-lain,

19) tidak merampas harta dan hakmilik orang lain,

20) tidak terlalu mengikut suruhan nafsu termasuk makan-minum, tidur dll,

21) menjaga pandangannya,

22) ketawa tidaklah keterlaluan – sekadar lebih banyak senyum,

23) sentiasa bermuhasabah diri,

24) sentiasa berzakat, bersedekah dan menderma (bersifat pemurah) – jika atau sekadar mampu

25) apabila bersedekah atau memberikan hadiah atau menghulurkan bantuan, jagalah maruah si penerima supaya dia tidak aib di hadapan orang lain kerana terpaksa memohon bantuan,

26) bertabiatlah dengan suka menyembunyikan bantuan supaya hanya diketahui oleh Allah SWT,

27) jika berjanji, tunaikanlah, jangan tangguh-tangguhkan kerana orang yang kita berjanji, menanti-nanti akan janji kita, jika kita takut putus janji, sebutlah InsyaAllah di penghujung perkataan, "Saya akan cuba sedaya upaya" . Jika orang yang kita berjanji masih menanti dan janji kita masih tidak dapat penuhi, hubungilah dia.

28) tidak menakutkan kaum keluarga, sanak saudara, rakan-rakan, anak-anak buah dll dengan ugutan dan ancaman,

29) tidak meletakkan hukuman atau balasan ke atas perbuatan yang salah secara berlebih-lebihan,

30) syaitan dan seumpamanya adalah musuh yang nyata pada diri,

31) memastikan dijaga maruah diri, kaum keluarga, sanak saudara, rakan-rakan, anak-anak buah dll,

32) tidak mengeluh atau bersedih dalam tempoh yang panjang jika kehilangan apa-apa yang disayangi sebaliknya redha dan bertaubat,

33) menggalakkan  kaum keluarga, sanak saudara, rakan-rakan, anak-anak buah dll supaya menuntut ilmu dan sekiranya ilmu yang dituntut sudah tiba masanya untuk disebarkan – menyuruh ianya disebarkan supaya orang lain dapat memanfaatkannya,

34) apabila membeli apa-apa harta, jangan tunjuk-tunjukkan terutamanya di kalangan  kaum keluarga, sanak saudara, rakan-rakan, anak-anak buah dll, yang mungkin terasa hina kerana ketiadaan dan kedhaifan.

35) Sebelum membuat keputusan yang penting, merujuklah dahulu kepada pakar atau ahli dalam bab berkenaan tidak kira hal-hal dunia atau akhirat,

36) apabila berurusan, kenali manusia-manusia persekitarannya yang mungkin mempunyai kepentingan diri yang melebihi kepentingan orang lain supaya tidak berlaku apa-apa pengkhianatan, berilah pesan dan kata-kata nasihat.

38) Semasa dhaif - kita berdoa agar dianugerahkan rezeki atau pangkat oleh Allah SWT - semasa mewah atau berpangkat, janganlah lupa diri kita dan sentiasalah mengenang semasa kita susah dahulu, ingatlah hanya manusia yang biasa susah, akan mengenali orang yang susah.

"Orang yang susah ni Nik, dia tidak akan berani menyatakan kepada kita dia lapar, kitalah yang kena memahaminya"

39) Jika memberi hadiah atau berbuat jasa, kawallah diri supaya tidak mengungkit-ungkit pemberian atau jasa yang dilakukan itu,

40) Berhutang hanya ketika perlu, lunaskan hutang dan jangan lari dari hutang, maklumkanlah kepada pemiutang jika kita belum mampu membayarnya,

41) Memaafkan dan redha atas kesilapan dan kesalahan orang lain lebih baik dari tidak memaafkan atau tidak redha kerana sifat memaaf dan redha adalah sifat Nabi.

Apabila saya memerhatikan kembali nota ini, saya teringat persamaan pesanannnya dalam salah sebuah kitab ulama terkenal nusantara, rasanya baguslah kalau kita dapat menjadikannya tonggak hidup kita sekadar yang mampu.

Wassalam dan Wallahualam

It's not the car, it's not the house. It's the love and support, the ups and downs we share.

HALYCON DAYS - STORIES BY LEONG SIOK HUI (The Star)

A stone’s throw away from Kota Baru in Kelantan is Pasir Belanda Resort — a charming place that allows a glimpse into kampung living.

Someone once said: “Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”

Well, we certainly saw loads of “sunshine” during our two-day stay in Pasir Belanda Resort, Kelantan.

Pasir Belanda Resort, comprising a cluster of traditional wooden houses, sits on the banks of Sungai Pengkalan Chepa in Kg Banggol, a 15-minute drive from Kota Baru.

But Pasir isn’t your typical resort where you laze by the pool and sink into a comatose state under the glaring sun.

As the Dutch owners Harry and Annemeike Mulder envisaged it, guests come to Pasir to savour an idyllic kampung stay, soak up Kelantan’s rich cultural heritage and mingle with the amicable villagers.

A whirlwind visit

The Star photographer Azman Ghani and I got our first dose of “sunshine” on the morning of our arrival.

As we sauntered around Kg Banggol looking for a warung to get a bite, locals on motorbikes flashed their smiles, kids waved and yelled hellos and a pakcik even stopped to offer us a ride in his van.

It helps that the resort opens its doors to the villagers. Local kids drop by to play on the swing and seesaw. The compound faces the main road that cuts through the village.

At Pasir, scarlet heliconias bloom on the grassy lawn while leafy palms, frangipani and coconut trees lend a tranquil ambience.

An idyllic scene as seen from Sungai Pengkalan Chepa.

A wakaf (rest pavilion) sits in the garden where guests can loll about.

The Mulders and their two kids, Jesse, 9 and Abel, 4, live in a 40-year-old, three-bedroom kampung house on the resort grounds.

Like the main house, the guest chalets sport distinctive Malay architecture with singhorra(terracotta) tiles, steep-tiered roofs with curved gable ends and sunbeam motifs on the roof. The sunbeam symbolises the beginning and the end of a day.

Harry was lucky to find a talented local carpenter, Pak Suji, to build the chalets from meranti wood.

Each chalet comes with a veranda where you can plonk yourself on a deck chair, get lost in a good book or just watch the world go by.

The rooms come equipped with twin or double beds, hot shower, air-conditioning, TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The resort can accommodate up to 20 guests.

One of the best spots in Pasir is its jetty hut perched on the river bank. Guests can tuck into a breakfast of homemade bread served with jam and butter and fried eggs there, while indulging in bird-watching or gazing at a perahu gliding by.

Pak Soh showing the colourful wayang puppets he fashioned out of cowhide.

The Mulders’ good friend, Penang-based David Bakewell, finds the jetty an ideal spot to observe kingfishers, bitterns hunting for fish and the munias feeding on seedheads.

“I’ve also watched woodpeckers, orioles and malkohas feeding in the trees next to the jetty,” says David, an avid birdwatcher and photographer. Across the river, pond heron and mynas feed in the marshy areas, and the occasional rainbow-coloured bee-eater whizzes past.

But on our visit, the jetty was being rebuilt since it had collapsed during a monsoon in December.

Kak Yah, the neighbour

Other than breakfast, the resort doesn’t serve any other meal but Harry encourages his guests to dine at his neighbour’s.

Robayah Hassan, or better known as Kak Yah, whips up scrumptious lunches or dinners upon request. Guests who want to learn to cook Kelantan delicacies can also sign up for her cooking class.

Kak Yah’s husband used to trade textiles in Sarawak. Homemaker and mother of seven, Kak Yah, 51, cooks for wedding kenduri in the village to earn extra income. Nowadays, the regular stream of Pasir guests hankering for her cooking keep her busy.

Azman and I found out why when we requested for the “Special” package, the RM25 per person dinner. The sumptuous spread of Kelantan specialties was mind-boggling.

We had solok (fish blended with onions, shallots, ginger and grated young coconut stuffed into oversized green chillies and steamed), ikan percik, homemade acar, chicken curry with spices, pucuk ubi with sambal belacan and budu (fermented anchovy sauce) and stir-fried pucuk paku (ferns) with omelette.

batik-painting workshop for Pasir Belanda guests.

A local dessert called butih nangka, was a first for us. Little balls of glutinous rice flour are served with coconut milk, spiced with fenugreek, ginger and fragrant pandan leaves.

“Old folks believe that butih nangka helps release the wind in your body,” explains Kak Yah.

As we savoured dessert, she showed us a bunch of postcards and letters from the US, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, raving about her cooking and congeniality.

Kelantan’s rich heritage

The next day, armed with Harry’s detailed map, we hopped onto the resort’s bicycles to explore the nearby villages. Our first stop was a kite-maker’s place on Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) road.

His shop — which is more a wooden shack — was so unassuming that we almost flew past. But inside, a dazzling array of wau (kites) in different shapes, colours and sizes hung from the ceiling.

In one corner, a small and wiry man was bent over his kite, busy putting on the finishing touches.

Sapie Yusof, 61, has been fashioning kites from buluh duri (bamboo) frames and paper for 36 years. His kites cost between RM30 and RM11,000. Sapie actively takes part in various kite competitions around Malaysia.

Though Sapie was finishing up his kites for the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival which was in a few weeks’ time, he obliged us with a chat.

Sapie’s wau shop is a modest shack filled with colourful and impressive kites.

A short five-minute ride from Sapie’s shop is a keropok (fish cracker) factory in Kg Kedai Buloh.

Engku Noraini Yaacob, 49, and her husband run a small cottage industry churning out keropok lekor and dry fish crackers for the local market. When we dropped by, the factory was idle due to the shortage of fish supply because of the rainy season.

Engku Noraini dished out some tips on how to choose tasty crackers. Tamban fish (Sardinella albella) is the best and a good keropok lekor (chockful of fish and not flour) shouldn’t be oily when fried.

The usual self-guided bicycle tour includes hopping on a ferry to Kg Laut and dropping by a well-known Tok Dalang’s (master puppeteer) panggung (theatre) cum workshop.

Yusoff Mamat or Pak Soh has been playing wayang kulit (shadow puppets) since he was nine.

At the workshop, visitors learn how the puppets are created from cowhide and how the Tok Dalang brings the puppets to life via characters from the Ramayana epic.

Aside from performing nationwide, Pak Soh, 59, has also travelled to Tokyo, South Africa and Indonesia to showcase his traditional art.

Engku Noraini Yaacob runs a keropok factory near Pantai Cahaya Bulan. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

Our final stopover was at a batik “factory” run by Zahari Haji Daud.

A 10-minute stroll from Pasir Belanda, the shop — housed in a wooden shed — produces good quality hand-drawn batik priced from RM100 and above. 

At Zahari’s, visitors can also sign up for a batik-drawing workshop.

Dutch tourists Hendrik Jan de Ru, 60, and his wife, Anke Noorts, 53, took the same bicycle tour as us the day before.

“Staying at Pasir and in the village really stimulates your senses — different smells, sounds and sights and easy contact with friendly people,” says Hendrik.

“Places like Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur are beautiful but they’re too touristy. What we like is the feeling of authenticity, a real village with real people.”

Yes, for urban Malaysians like us, we too relish the down-to-earth village folks with their copious amounts of “sunshine” living in the heart of Kelantan.

Making a home in Kelantan

Pasir Belanda opened its doors to its first guests at the end of 2005.

Owners Harry and Annemeike Mulder from the Netherlands wanted to live outside Holland for a while and decided on Malaysia.

“I first came to Malaysia in 1989 for a six-month internship. During my travels around the country, I found that I liked Kelantan best. I told myself I would bring my future wife to see this beautiful place,” says Harry, 40, a former mechanical engineer.

The couple settled in Penang in 2003 because they had friends there and started a travel agency to bring Dutch tourists over. It took two exhaustive years before they found their dream house in Kelantan.

The house was built in 1969 by an Englishman, Datuk Howard Foster Biles (1916-2003). Biles came to then Malaya as a marine officer in World War II and was later appointed the Protector for the Orang Asli in Kelantan and Pahang.

After he retired in ’69, he became the supervisor of the Kelantan Royal Household. Today, the Mulders lease the house and land from the home’s Malay owner.

“There’s something special about it,” gushes Annemeike, 40. “It’s a wooden kampung house on stilts. It has a great view, breeze and nice neighbours. 

Since we liked it, we thought others might like it too.”

The couple’s son, Abel, 4, was born in Kelantan and today, the family has blended in comfortably with kampung life. The children attend international school in Kota Baru. Harry and Annemeike speak Malay with a Kelantanese dialect and share a great camaraderie with their neighbours. A primary schoolteacher in Holland, Annemieke now teaches English to the local kids whenever they request a class.

What are the Mulders’ long-term plan?

“We just live day by day, year by year,” Annemeike chuckles.

-----------------------

(Nik Zafri's comments "Sometimes I wonder, is it a coincidence that they name this place "Pasir Belanda" (Dutch Sand) and the Mulders are from Netherlands?")

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS - NIK ZAFRI

#Family #Happiness #Marriage #Kids 

My gems, My jewels, My treasure - nothing else matters (eldest in not in pic)

You can't manage your organization and professionalism if you can't manage your family. 

Your organization and professionalism means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to you if you loose your family!

MALAYSIANS UNITED!

Syukur, walaupun ada isu politik dan pihak yang cuma mengeruhkan keadaan malah ada yang dari luar negara atau luar dari tempat bencana - memandai-mandai hendak menyebarkan fitnah, namun RAKYAT MALAYSIA tidak kira bangsa, agama, keturunan, kaya/miskin, susah/senang, kerajaan BN/UMNO, PAS, DAP, PKR dsb. serta parti-parti komponen, agensi, ATM, TUDM, TLDM, NGO, medias, Duli-Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja-Raja Melayu, orang perseorangan dan ramai lagi:

BERSATU HATI - JIWA DAN RAGA. 

ANDALAH WIRA DAN PAHLAWAN!

I thank God, despite hiccups of politics and some people trying to worsen the situation even those from outside the country or outside the danger zone - spreading rumours which are untrue, MALAYSIANS - regardless of race, religion, rich/poor, government - political parties BN/UMNO, PAS, DAP, PKR etc. and all the respective component parties, agencies, Military, RMAF, Navy, NGOs, medias, HRH the Sultans, individuals and so many more : 

UNITE IN HEART, BODY AND SOUL

YOU ARE THE HEROES!

SAYA MENYATAKAN SEMBAH SOKONGAN TITAH PERKENAN DYMM TUANKU SULTAN SELANGOR